Crocktober: White Chicken Chili {Plus a Crock Pot + $100 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!}

Welcome to my 5th Annual Crocktober Crock Pot Recipe Link Up!

 

This is always one of my favorite link ups!

I LOVE my Crock Pot.

As a working mom, my Crock Pot is a staple during the Fall & Winter months.

They make my life & dinner time so much easier!

Can I get an Amen?

I am SO excited to share this recipe with you.

This is a recipe I have been making for about 3 years...so glad I am finally sharing with you:

Here is what you need:

 - Chicken (I shred up a rostire chicken, but you could use 3-4 cooked chicken breasts)

- 3 (14.5 oz) cans of white beans, drained

- Yellow Onion, diced

-1 jar of Green Salsa (I use La Victoria)

- 1 container of Chicken Broth

- 1 can of diced green chilies

-1 small can of diced jalapenos (optional)

- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

-1 TBSP ground cumin

-2 TBSP minced garlic

- 2 TBSP black pepper

Directions:

Drain the 3 cans of white beans:

 With a spoon, smash 1 can of the beans:

 Shred up (or cube) your rostisre chicken (or cooked chicken breasts)
OR, you can use my Quick & Easy Shredded Chicken Method {HERE}

 Put the beans, salsa, green chilies, onion, garlic, cumin, pepper, jalapenos (optional) & caynenne pepper (optional) in the crock pot.

 Add the Chicken to the crock pot:

 Add the Chicken Broth to the Crock Pot. Stir ingredients all together:

Cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours.

When ready to serve, ladle into bowls & top with garnishes.

I like to garnish with monterey jack cheese, sour cream, a lime wedge, slices of avocado & tortilla chips:

 This chili is so flavorful! 

I always add the jalepano & cayenne pepper because I like things with a kick, but it is way too spicy for my kids if I add it

 This recipe makes enough for 10-12 servings.

 I hope you love this recipe as much as we do!

Like most of my recipes, it is easy to make! 

It is perfect for busy week nights, especially in the Fall & Winter!

Do you have a favorite Crock Pot meal? Link it up!

Link up as many recipes as you want!

(If you don't have a blog, feel free to add your favorite crock pot recipes to the comments or linky)

I am keeping the Linky open until Sunday, November 8th.

So, you can link up anytime between now & then!

And, be sure and check out what other people have linked up as well. 

That is my favorite part.... checking out what other people have linked up!

Disclosure: This post was written as part of my participation in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger Program. While Hormel Foods provides me material and necessary resources to complete various activities, the thoughts and statements in this post are my own.

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In honor of my 5th Annual Crocktober Link Up, I am giving away a Crock Pot!

One lucky person will win THIS 6 qt Stainless Steel Programmable Crock Pot!

You can keep it for yourself, give it as a present....the holiday season is right around the corner!

 

 And, that's not all....I am also giving away a $100 Amazon Gift Card!!

Use the Rafflecopter below to enter!

{Giveaway ends on Sunday November 8th}

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And, a reminder that my Rodan + Fields October Special ends tomorrow night!
For all my new preferred customers, get $31 cash back, 10% off your order and Free Shipping!

Email me to place an order: melissa_larson17@yahoo.com 

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Hope you have a safe & fun Halloween Weekend! a Rafflecopter giveaway

What's Up Wednesday :: October 2015

It's the last Wednesday of the month, that means it's time for our What's Up Wednesday Link Up!

Link up with  me, Sheaffer & Shay the LAST Wednesday of each month so we can read about What's Up with YOU!

Here we go!

What We’re Eating this week..... 
Monday: Out to dinner
Tuesday: Taco Tuesday
Wednesday: Chicken Enchiladas Verde

Recipe {HERE}

Thursday: Homemade Pizza Night (which will also be our carving pumpkin night along with watching The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown)

Friday: Usually it's Friday Night Pizza Night, but this Friday is our  Progressive Dinner with  some Neighbors and I am hosting the Salad Course at my house!
I am serving 3 salads...one of them is my Beet Salad:
Recipe {HERE}

Saturday: Halloween and we are having a court block party, so I am making a big pot of my Taco Soup:
Taco Soup Recipe {HERE}
I will also be making some appetizers....one of them being my Blue Cheese & Bacon Dip.
YUM!

I am also making this...Pumpkin Spice Cake:

I will be blogging this cake...I have made it 2 times this month & will be making it again for Halloween...so good!

Sunday: Leftovers
 

What I'm Reminiscing about.....

Since Halloween is this weekend, I am reminiscing about Halloween!
We have had a "theme" every year...but not this year. First year without a theme, I'm surprised I was able to do a theme for as many years as I did :)
Love looking back at some of my kids Halloween costumes:


2007:
Kate the Butterfly

2008:
Kitty Cat & Pink Poodle:



2009:
 Ladybug and Bumble Bee

2010:
Super Girl & Wonder Girl:

2011:
Pirate Girl & Tinkerbell:

2012:
Cupcake, Ice Cream Cone & Luke the Whoppie Cushion

2013:
Wizard of Oz

2014:
Anna, Elsa & Olaf

No theme this year. It's been a nice run of 7 years with a theme. Sigh ;)

 What I'm loving.....
I'm loving that I got to see my Grandma for her 104th Birthday!
 
Click HERE to read yesterday's post about Grammy turning 104

What We've been up to.....
October has been a crazy busy month!
The first week of the month started off with Kevin being out of town for work.
Then the 2nd week of October our neighbor passed away & we had the service.
We have also had soccer for both girls every Saturday.

 The 3rd week of October was my 1/2 marathon in San Francisco!


And, just this past weekend we celebrated my Grammy's 104th Birthday!
It's been a busy, busy, month! Phew!

What I'm Dreading.....

Earthquakes!!!!
Here in the Bay Area, we currently experiencing an Earthquake Swarm.
In the past 2 weeks, we have had over 400 earthquakes.
Yes, you read that right....400 earthquakes in 2 weeks.
None of them have been over 3.6, but still...it is CRAZY.
They are saying that the swarm might last another couple weeks.
 In the past 24 hours here is a map of the earthquakes:

Ugh....make the earthquakes stop!

I am dreading the Earthquakes. Even though I am born & raised here in California & we occasionally have earthquakes, this is not normal. I dread everytime we have one because I think "Is this going to be THE BIG ONE?"
Time to stock up my Earthquake Kit.

What I'm Working On.....

My 5th Annual Crocktober Link Up on FRIDAY!!!!!

You can link up your favorite crock pot recipes!!!!
And, check out all the awesome crock pot recipes that other people link up!
And......there will be a GIVEAWAY!!!!
Make sure you come back Friday!
I am SO excited to share my new Crock Pot Recipe with you, I know you guys will love it!

To see all my crock pot recipes, click {HERE}

What I'm Excited About.....

 I'm excited that Rodan + Fields Eye Cream is BACK after being sold out for months!!!!

YAY! In honor of  our Eye Cream being back in stock,
I will be placing a BULK order of our amazing eye cream this weekend!
 

For my bulk order, you can get it with my preferred customer discount and it will only cost you $58 and I will cover your tax & shipping!
One jar lasts me at least 4-5 months.

Bye-Bye under eye bags & crows feet!

Let me know if you want to order one! 

Leave a comment with your email or email me: melissa_larson17@yahoo.com

I'm also excited about the amazing results our Reverse Regimen has!
Did you spend too much time in the sun this summer?
 Do you have sun damage, age spots or pregnancy melasma? I can help!!  
 I love seeing before & after pics when people use Rodan + Fields products! How awesome are these Reverse Results from Erin? She used Reverse for 6 months & now uses redefine.

If you are interested in becoming a Preferred Customer, our October special is going on until next Saturday, October 31st.
For all my new preferred customers, get $31 cash back, 10% off your order and Free Shipping!

What I'm Watching........

 About 2 moths ago, I decided to start watching Grey's Anatomy. I had never seen it before & several people told me I would love it. Because Kevin has been working so much, at night, I started watching it....2 months later & I am starting Season 10.

I am loving Grey's. I am also DVRing the current season so that I can watch it when I am caught up!

 
Kevin and I are still watching House of Cards & now that Fall TV has started we are watching Scandal again!

 What I'm Reading.....

I only read 1 book this month. It was slow....I loved Fault in our Stars & Paper Towns by John Green, but this book was just okay.
An Abundance of Katherine's

I would like to blame that on being busy with being a mom, teaching, running  for a 1/2 marathon, etc...but the REAL reason I haven't finished it is that when I have down time at night when the kids are in bed, I would rather binge watch Grey's Anatomy. Ha!
Just keeping it real :)

I have a few books on my kindle that I haven't read yet, so I am going to read 

For the Love 

 and

 The Girl in the Spider's Web (part of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Series)

What I'm Listening to.....

I love Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' song
Downtown

 Whenever it comes on when I run, it pumps me up.
When I ran my 1/2 marathon the other week, this song came on right as I was running through Downtown San Francisco...it totally pumped me up :)

 I also love Selena Gomez' Good for You:


What I'm Wearing.....
 Weather this month has been warm...80's & 90's
So, I am still wearing short sleeve shirts to work:

 Shirt // Pants // Necklace // Watch // Bracelet // Shoes

It was chilly just one day in October (and by chilly, I mean it was in the 70s. Ha!)
Here is what I wore that day:

Shirt (Stitch Fix ) // Jeans // Booties

What I’m doing this weekend.....
We have a jam packed weekend!
Progressive Dinner on Friday night!
Both girls have soccer games on Saturday & then of course  Halloween festivities on Saturday night!

 Sunday I plan on going to church, then watching football all day :)

What I'm Looking Forward to next month.....
Soccer for the girls being over! I love it, but they each have practice 2 times a week, plus games. I am ready for a break & not having to rush after school to get homework done & off to practice. I feel like a taxi some days :)

I am also looking forward to Thanksgiving! It's one of my favorite days of the year!

And, I love that November is when it finally starts feeling like Fall here in California.

It has been a really warm October...in the 80's & 90's all month long.
All our trees still have green leaves...when November arrives they finally turn orange & red and when the weather gets chilly. I haven't even worn boots yet this fall...just my booties & only 1 time so far because it's been so warm! I am looking forward to cooler weather!

Also in November, my college roommate & her family are coming our from Boston to stay with us like they do every year. We are all looking forward to their visit!

What else is new.....

 Not much, just busy with school & the kids activities.
Although, I must say, Luke's  personality is just exploding.
Each day he says or does new things that crack us up....he is a funny kid.
He has a great sense of humor and makes us laugh everyday.
He also thinks he is so funny when we sneaks onto the couch to eat his snack.

How can you resist that cute smile?

Question of the month is:
What is your favorite Thanksgiving Recipe?

Thanksgiving Dinner is probably my favorite meal of the year.
I love it all..Turkey with fresh Cranberry Aauce, Sausage Corn Bread Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes (Pioneer Woman's recipe), Green Bean Casserole and Creamy Baked Corn.
But, my favorite part might be dessert....

Pumpkin Cheesecake {Recipe HERE}

I am not a fan of pumpkin pie (it's a texture thing...can't handle it!) So, for the past few years, I have been making Pumpkin Cheesecake instead...it's AMAZING!!! I can't wait to have it in a month!

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Feel free to follow along! 

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Can't wait to read about What's up with all of YOU!